Run in Rancho Cucamonga to benefit children with congenital heart defects

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A 5K run to benefit families of children born with congenital heart defects will begin on Saturday morning at Central Park.

Registration starts at 7 p.m. and the run, through the Pacific Electric Trail, starts at 8 p.m.

The event will feature a kid's zone, face painting, crafts, balloons for children and a raffle. A fire truck and sheriff vehicles will be on display.

Among the children who participants will honor by joining is Rancho Cucamonga resident Lauren Gentry, 6. Gentry was born with a congenital heart defect and had a heart transplant two years ago. Lauren, who is abnormally smaller than girls her age, has had three open heart surgeries in her life; the first was when she was five days old.

Camille Gentry said the same event last year raised $7,000. The money helped to fund a pediatric cardiac unit at Loma Linda Children's Hosptial and Christmas dinner for families.

"We were shocked when we had 400 people there last year," Gentry said. That was awesome, so we're excited to continue this year and hopefully raise more money."